At the time she competed for Miss America, Smallwood was a student at the Oklahoma College for Women.

[2] Her hobbies included swimming, dancing, and horseback riding, and she served as captain of her college hockey team.

[9] Smallwood wore her long chestnut hair in two braided buns, unlike the bobbed flapper style that was popular at the time.

[1] During her year as Miss America, she became the poster girl for Meadows Washing Machines and Westinghouse Electric, in addition to many others.

[4] Though Smallwood had originally planned to return to Oklahoma College for Women after her year as Miss America, she instead accepted an offer to tour the United States on the Orpheum Circuit for $1,500 a week.